Arch support



June 3, 1930.

C. LASKY ARCH SUPPORT Filed Aug. 6, 1928 Patented June 3, 1930 i UNITED STATES CHARLES LASKY, or sr. LOUIS, MISSOURI, AssienoR or ONE-HALF or s'r. Louis, MISSOURI TO MAX KLAPPER.

ARCH SUPPORT Application filed August 6,1928. Serial No.- 297,775.

My invention relates to a new and useful improvement in arch supports, .and more particularly to that type of arch support which is built into the shank portion of a shoe, and extends rearwardly over the heel and forwardly to a point under the ball of the foot of the wearer.

It is desired that in this type of arch support to make the shank portion of the shoe rigid and in doing this it is common to insert a thin steel plate between the insole and outer sole extending under the heel to a point near the ball of the foot. With arch support in use, the rigidity of the portion underlying" the heel is such that the wearers foot is raised from the shoe in walking when his weight bears against the forward part of the arch support. This movement of the wearers heel in the shoe is undesirable.

Having this in'mind, my principal object is to provide a substantially rigid arch support having flexible heel portion.

Another object is to provide an arch support of steel in which the heel portion has been given a different degree of temper than that of the remainder of the support.

A still further object is to provide an arch v support in which-the heel portion is of difarch support built into the shank portion of a shoe between the outer sole 2 and the insole 3. The heel portion 4 of the arch support overlies the heel 5 of the shoe and is fastened in place in the customary manner by tacks 6. The forward end of the arch support is provided with a slot 7 which is engaged rivet 8 so as to permit a limited sliding movement. v

' The arch support 1 is formed in one-piece;

preferably of steel. The heel portion 4 is substantially thinner than the remainder,

being about one-third the thickness of the forward portion and tempered to provide flexibility. The forward portion 9 of the arch support is tempered to a difierentde gree than-the heel portion. This is to obtain substantial rigidity throughout the shank of the shoe. The different temper is aided by the greater thickness of the forward,

portion 9 in obtaining the desired strength.

In using my improved arch support, there is no tendency for thls member to fulcrum on the front edge of heel 5 and raise the wearers foot, since the portion of the support over the heel of the shoe is quite fiexible. Instead of displacing the wearers heel,

the tendency is rather to raise the intermediate portion of the support and hence the arch of the wearers foot. i

It can readily be seen that the use of a multiplicity of means to prevent fulcruming of the arch support over the forward edge of the heel, will completely eliminate this fault which develops in the use of the ordinary arch support. In'fact, in the present instance, what has heretofore been a fault has been converted into a desirable feature,

that is, the pressure which in an ordinary.

arch support tends to raise the wearers heel from the shoe is now shifted forward and utilized to produce a pressure upwardly under'the arch of the foot. The flexibility "of the heel portion is produced both by the r T thinness of the material and bythe temper.

which is given this part of the article in its manufacture. The same is true of the forward portion. Its rigidity is created by the relative thickness of this part and by the different temper which is given to this portion of the heel.

I claim:

1. In a shoe, the combination with an outer sole and an inner sole, of a metallic strip interposed between said soles and having its forward end and its body portion of uniform thickness throughout their entire areas and having the heel portion reduced in thickness beyond the heel breast line to increase the flexibility thereof, whereby the heel portion of the shoe is allowed at all times to remain in contact with the heel of the wearers foot, said strip being provided near its forward end with a longitudinally disposed elongated opening, and means passing through said elongated opening for securing said end of the body portion tosaid soles whereby said body portion has a longitudinal movement relatively to said securing means.

2. As a new article of manufacture, a me tallio arch support comprising a single metallic piece of appropriate shape and size and of; uniform thickness throughout its entire area with the exception of its heel portion which is substantially reduced in thickness beyond the heel breast line to increase the flexibility of said heel portion and permit flexing thereof relatively to the body portion of said arch support.

In testimony whereof I hereunto afi'ix my signature this 3rd day of August, 1928.

' CHARLES LASKY.

meters 

